Electrical circuit switching device



Nov. 7, 1950 w. R. AIKEN 2,529,323

ELECTRICAL CIRCUIT SWITCHING DEVICE iled July 9, 1945 l2 /2 OUTPUT /44 /4- POWER 1 I 42 [51L I I8 7 Y k E I I 5 20 22 33 34 35 figul- 2 ourpur /44 I POWER /3/ I 42 'E I 1/ V INVENTOR W/L LIAM ROSS AIKEN ATTORNEYS Patented Nov. 7, 1950 ELECTRICAL CIRCUIT SWITCHING DEVICE William Ross Aiken, Berkeley, Calif.

Application July 9, 1945, Serial No. 603,883

11 Claims.

My invention relates to electrical circuit controlling devices, and more particularly to an improved and simplified circuit making and breaking device.

Devices of this class to which my invention relates have a wide variety of applications in which it is desirable to cause an electrical impulse, which may' be relatively brief in duration, to effect closure of a circuit and maintain the same closed until a repetition of such an ime pulse when the closed circuit is to be opened. Specific examples of a few of such applications will be explained hereinafter.

The principal object of my invention is to pro- Vide an entirely electrical means for effecting such closure and reopening of a circuit.

A further and more specific object of my invention is to make possible substantial increase in the speed of operation of devices of the class to which the invention relates. A further and specific object of my invention is to eliminate moving parts such as latches, interlocks, and the like having a high intertia limiting the speed of operation of which the device is capable and also subject to mechanical wear. A further and more specific object of my invention is to provide a device of the character described, in which the output circuit is capable of carrying substantially higher electrical current than the control circuits.

The foregoing, together with other objects and advantages of my invention, Will be best understood from the following description of specific embodiment thereof; the invention itself being defined with particularity in the appended claims.

In the embodiments of my invention herein-v after described, I employ a forked control circuit which includes activating and deactivating forks and including a main control switch by means of which the activating and deactivating forks may be alternately energized. Energization of the activating fork of the control circuit causes energization' of the output circuit which is maintained until energization of the deactivating fork of the control circuit is effected, whereupon deenergization of the output circuit occurs. Any necessity for mechanical latching or interlocking devices is avoided by the use of electromagnetically controlled devices so arranged that the control exercised by the main control switch is shifted alternately from the activating fork to the deactivating fork and back to the activating fork, depending upon the energized or deenergized condition of the output circuit at the time of operation of the main control switch.

In its simplest form the preferred embodiment of my invention disclosed herein functions well when the characteristics of the different relays are chosen so that their speeds of operation are related to each other in such a way as to eliminate the possibility of chattering of the electromagnetic devices employed, However, the necessity for employing relays of such selected characteristics may be avoided by increasing the number of relays employed, and an embodiment of m invention employing a larger number of relays for this purpose is also disclosed. These embodiments are diagrammatically illustrated in the drawings forming a part of this application, in which,

Figure 1 is a circuit diagram illustrating an embodiment of my invention employing the minimum number of relays; and

Figure 2 is'a circuit diagram of an embodiment of my invention employing additional relays for the purpose above referred to.

Referring to Figure 1, in which there is shown a source of electrical energy consisting of leads H and I2. and an output circuit consisting of the lead [2 together with a second lead [3, the device of my invention is designed to effect connection of the power lead I! to the output lead I3 in the manner above described for the purpose of supplying electrical energy from the source ll, l2 to the output circuit 12, t3, the latter being adapted for connection to any sort of device which it is desired to control by means of the circuit making and breaking device of my invention.

For the purpose of controlling making and breaking of the output circuit l2, I3, I employ a control circuit 14 including a main control switch l5, diagrammatically illustrated as a conventional push-button switch but which may be in the form of any electrical circuit making and breaking device capable of transmitting an electrical impulse of at least brief duration, such as an electronic device, a time controlled switch or the like.

At the point IS, the control circuit 14 branches into an activating fork I1 and a deactivating fork l8. The activating fork I"! includes the winding !9 of an activating relay and beyond said winding branches at 20 into a normally open fork 2| and a normally closed fork 22. The normally open fork 2! includes the armature 23 which is one of three armatures adapted to be actuated by energization of the winding IQ of the activating relay, but which, whensaid winding I9 is deenergized, occupies an open circuit position, so that initially no current can. flow through the normally open fork 2! of the activating circuit.

The normally closed fork 22 of the activating circuit includes the armature 24 of an output circuit relay hereinafter described and the armature 25 of a deactivating circuit relay also hereinafter described, passing thence to the power line it. Armatures 24 and 25 are adapted to be actuated by the output circuit relay and the deactivating circuit relay, respectively, but when these relays are deenergized, both armature 24 and armature 25 stand in closed circuit position, so that upon closure of the main control switch l current may flow from the power lead l2 through the control circuit l4, main control switch [5, activating fork I1, activating relay winding it, normally closed activating circuit fork 22, relay armature 24, and relay armature 25 back to power line H, thus completing a circuit energizing the activating relay winding is.

The deactivating fork 18 of the control circuit l4 includes the winding 29 of a deactivating relay, and branches at 30 into two forks both of which are normally open and which are designated 3i and 32, respectively.

The normally open fork 3! of the deactivating circuit includes an armature 33 adapted to be actuated by the activating relay upon energization of the winding l9 thereof, but which when said winding is is deenergized stands in closed circuit position. Also included in the normally open fork M of the deactivating circult is the armature 3c of the output circuit relay to be hereinafter described; this armature (i being adapted to be actuated by the output circuit relay upon energization of the winding thereof, but during deenergization of said winding standing in open circuit position so that no current can fiow through the normally open fork 3| of the deactivating circuit.

The normally open fork 32 of the deactivating circuit includes an armature 35 of the deactivating relay adapted to be actuated by the winding 29 upon energization thereof but during deenergization of said winding standing in open circuit position so that no current can flow through the normally open fork 32 of the deactivating circuit.

The output circuit I2, I 3 branches at 42 into two forks 43 and as both of which are normally open at armatures 4t and 4|, respectively. Relay winding 39 is shunted across the output leads l2 and i3 and is thus energized only when current is flowing in the said output circuit. Means are provided for effecting closure of each of the forks 43 and 4 of the output circuit l2, I3, one of which is actuated upon energization of the activating relay winding 19 to initially close the fork Q3, and the other of which is actuated upon energization of the output circuit relay Winding 39 to maintain the fork 44 closed after deenergization of the winding [9 of the activating relay.

The means for initially closing the fork 43 comprises an armature 40 actuated by the activating relay winding iii upon energization thereof, but which during deenergization of said winding l9 stands in open circuit position; the arrangement being such that upon energization of the activating relay winding i9 current may flow from power lead H by either of two paths to output lead l3. One of these paths includes the relay armatures 25, 24 and ii respectively, while the other of said paths includes only the armaturcs 4 23 and 40. The first of these paths is, of course, interrupted upon energization of the output relay circuit which by energizing the output relay Winding 39 moves the armature 24 to open circuit position, but the other path is maintained because energization of the activating circuit relay winding lii moves the armature 23 as well as the armature 40 to closed circuit position.

The means for closingthe fork 44 comprises the armature 4| actuated by the-winding 39 of the output circuit relay uponenergization thereof, but which during deenergization of the winding 39 stands in open circuit position; the arrangement being such that upon energization of the output circuit relay winding 39 by the means including the armature 40' just described, the

1 armature 4-! will move to closed circuit position and current will flow from power lead I I through armature 25 and armature M to output lead [3, maintaining the output circuit l2, l3 closed and maintaining energization of the output circuit relay winding 39 connected in shunt across said output circuit, notwithstanding deenergization of the activating circuit relay winding l9 by openingof the main control switch I5.

Energization of the output circuit relay winding 39 thus accomplished opens the normally closed fork of the activating circuit so that upon deenergization of the activating circuit relay winding I9 by opening of the main control switch l5, a reclosure of the main control switch I5 will not cause reenergization of the activating circuit relay winding I 9 so long as the winding '39 of the output circuit relay remains energized. Thi is accomplished by movement to open circuit position of the armature 24 actuated by the output circuit relay winding 39.

Switching means are also provided which are responsive to concurrent energization of the output circuit and deenergization ofthe activating circuit for closing one of the twonormally open forks of the deactivating circuit, and thus render-- ing the deactivating circuit capable of energization by a second closure of the main control switch l5. This means comprises the armature 34 disposed in the normally open fork 3! of the deactivating circuit and normallystanding in open circuit position but moved to closed circuit position upon energization of the output circuit relay Winding 39 and also the armature 33 similarly disposed in the normally open fork 3| of the deactivating circuit and standing in open circuit'posiw tion during energization of the activating circuit relay winding i 9 but moved to closed. circuit position upon deenergization of said winding l9. This arrangement is such that upon energization of the output circuit relay winding 39 the armature 36 moves to closed circuit position partially closing the normally open fork 3| of the deactivating circuit, and upon subsequent opening of the main control switch closed circuit position by reason of the deenergization of the activating circuitrelay winding It, thus completing closure of the normally open fork of the deactivating circuit and conditioning the circuit for complete closure upon reclosure of the main control switch 15.

At this point it should be noted that the armature 23 of the activating circuit relay winding I9 performs an important function in preventing complete closure of the'deactivating circuit prior to opening and reclosure of the main control" switch l5. As previously noted, the energization of the output circuit relay winding 39 opens the normally closed fork 22of the activating circuit 15 the armature 33 moves torelay-winding I 9. Thus were the armature 23 not provided for the purpose of maintaining en: ergization of the activating circuit relay winding I9 after movement of the armature 24 to open circuit position, winding I9 would be immediately deenergized upon energization of winding '39 and the deenergization of winding I9 would permit armature 33 to move to closed circuit position completing closure of the deactivating circuit without any reopening of the main control switch I5 having occurred. Thus by virtue of the provision of the armature 23 it is rendered impossible toenergize the deactivating circuit without opening and reclosing the control circuit I4.

Switching means are provided which are effective upon energization of the deactivating circuit by a second closure of the control switch I5 to open the output circuit I2, I3. This means comprises the armature 25 actuated by the deactivating'circuit relay winding 29 upon energization thereof so as to cause the same to move from its normal closed circuit position to open circuit position, thus interrupting the circuit extending from power lead II through the armature 25 and armature H to the output lead I3 and opening the-output circuit.

Since the opening of the output circuit results in deenergization of the output circuit relay winding 39 and consequent movement of its armature 24 back to its normal closed circuit position, partially closing the normally closed fork 22 of the activating circuit relay winding I9, the armature 25 of the deactivating circuit relay winding 29 is also disposed in the normally closed fork 22 of the activating circuit relay winding I9, so that notwithstanding the closure of the armature 24 the normally closed fork 22 of the activating circuit remains open at armature 25 so long as the deactivating circuit relay winding 29 remains energized,.

Also because the deenergization of the output circuit I2, I3 and the consequent deenergization of the output circuit relay winding 39 results in movement of its armature 34 from closed to open circuit position and consequent opening of the fork 3I of the deactivating circuit relay winding 29, the armature 35 of the deactivating circuit relay winding 29 is provided to maintain energization of the deactivating circuit relay winding 29 so long as the main control switch I5 remains closed. This is accomplished by movement of the armature 35 from its normal open circuit position to its closed circuit position upon energization of the deactivating circuit relay winding 29, thus closing the other normally open fork 32 of the deactivating circuit. But for this provision, the opening of the deactivating circuit at 34 would deenergize the winding 29 permitting the armature 25 to return to closed circuit position and re-energizing the activating circuit relay winding I9 without any opening of the main control switch I5. The function of the armature 35 in the case of the deactivating relay is therefore similar to the function of the armature 23 in the case of the activating relay previously explained.

The switching means comprising the armatures 25 and 35 of the deactivating circuit relay winding 29 is responsive to deenergization of the deactivating circuit by opening of the main control switch I5 to complete the closure of the normally closed fork of the activating circuit and effect a partial closure of the output circuit, both of which functions are accomplished by the return of the armature 25 to its normal closed circuit position.

The output circuit is not completely closed by this movement of armature 25, however, because at the time it takes place, both the activating circuit relay winding I9 and the output circuit relay winding 39 are deenergized and the armatures 49 and 4| therefore occupy open circuit positions.

The armature 35 actuated by the deactivating circuit relay winding 29 is effective upon deenergization of said winding to open the fork 32 of the deactivating circuit relay winding 29, thus preventing reenergization of the deactivating circuit relay winding 29 by a subsequent closure of the main control switch I5; the other fork 3I of the deactivating circuit having previously been opened by the movement to open circuit position of the armature 34 of the output circuit relay winding 39. Thus upon opening of the main control switch I5 the entire device is normalized and ready for reoperation in a repetitive manner upon reclosure of the main control switch I5.

The embodiment of my controlling device illustrated in Figure 1 operates satisfactorily provided the electromagnetic control devices are selected with reference to their speeds of operation so that they operate in the sequences which have been described. For example, in the deactivating circuit it is essential that the armature 35 be firmly seated in its closed circuit position, to which it is moved upon energization of the deactivating relay winding 29, before armature 34 of the output relay is allowed to move to open circuit position; otherwise the deactivating circuit would be interrupted by the opening of the fork 3| thereof at armature 34 permitting armature 25 of the deactivating relay to return to its normal closed circuit position and reenergize the activating relay I9.

In Figure 2 of the accompanying drawings I have shown an arrangement constituting an alternative embodiment of my invention, whereby the provision of a supplemental deactivating relay winding 59 actuating an armature 25b corresponding to the armature 25 of the deactivating relay winding 29 illustrated in the embodiment shown in Figure 1, such a condition as that above described can be avoided regardless of the relative speeds of operation of the electromagnetic devices involved in the operation.

The supplemental deactivating relay winding 50 is controlled by an armature 25a of the deactivating relay winding 29, which armature normally stands in open circuit position, but upon energization of the deactivating relay winding 29 is moved thereby to closed circuit position, closing a circuit extending from power line I2 through the supplemental deactivating relay winding 50, armature 25a, and thence to the other side II of the power line. This arrangement is such that the armature 35 of the deactivating relay winding 29 is necessarily firmly seated in its closed circuit position by the energization of the deactivating relay winding 29 at the same time that the armature 25a is moved to closed circuit position to energize the supplemental deactivating relay winding 50, and only thereafter will the armature 25b of the supplemental deactivating relay winding 59 to be moved from the closed circuit posoition normally occupied by it to open circuit position to interrupt the output circuit I2, I3.

Among the applications of the device of my invention may be mentioned the connection of the output circuit to an electromagnetic control device similar to the devices diagrammatically illustrated herein whereby any desired apparatus, for instance a telephone, may be alternately connected to two or more outgoing lines, the main control switch, for instance, being actuatedby the lifting of the telephone receiver from the hook. In another application two or more devices each embodying my invention are connected in tandem with the output circuit l2, iii of each connected across the contacts of the main control switch of the next sequential device. This arrangement is such that the first closure of the master control switch l of the first unit in the tandem arrangement will cause energization of the output leads l2, H of the last unit in the series, but in the case of two units, the second closure of the master control switch will not produce deenergization of the output circuit i2, is or" the second unit in the series, a third closure of the master control switch it? being necessary to deenergize the output leads. By appropriately selecting the number of units thus arranged in tandem, opening and closing of the end output leads circuit may be caused to respond to any predetermined number of impulses in the control circuit is of the initial unit in the tandem series.

Thus, while I have shown and described two preferred embodiments of my invention, it will be understood from the foregoing that many departures from the specific construction described, as well as many applications not specifically re ferred to herein, will be apparent to those skilled in the art to which the invention relates.

I claim:

1. A circuit control device comprising a control circuit having activating and deactivating forks; means including a switch effective upon initial closure thereof to close said activating fork only, an output circuit, means responsive to energization of said activating fork for closing said output circuit and maintaining the same closed, means responsive to opening of said switch while said output circuit is energized for preventing reclosure of said activating fork by the reclosure of said switch and for rendering said deactivating fork capable of being closed by the reclosure of said switch, and means responsive to energization of said deactivating fork for opening said ouput circuit.

2. A circuit control device comprising a control circuit having activating and deactivating forks; means including a switch effective upon initial closure thereof to close said activating fork only,

an output circuit, means responsive to energization of said activating fork for closing said output circuit and maintaining the same closed, means responsive to opening of said switch while said output circuit is energized for preventing reclosure of said activating fork by said switch and for rendering said deactivating fork capable of being closed by closure of said switch, means responsive to energization of said deactivating fork for opening said output circuit, and means responsive to opening of said switch after deenergization of the output circuit for preventing reclosure of said deactivating fork by said switch and for rendering said activating fork capable of closure by closure of said switch.

3. A circuit control device comprising an activating circuit including a main control switch and having a normally closed fork and a normally open fork, an output circuit having two normally open forks, a deactivating circuit including said main control switch and having two normally open forks, switching means effective only during ener'gization of said activating circuit for closing one fork of said output circuit and closing the normallyopen fork of said activating circuit, switching means effective only during energization of said output circuit for closing the other fork of said output circuit'and opening the normally closed fork of said activating circuit, switching means effective only during concurrent energization of said output circuit and deenergization of said activating circuit for closing one fork of said deactivating circuit, and switching means effective only during energization of said deactivating circuit for opening said output circuit; closing the other fork of said deactivating circuit; and opening said activating circuit.

4. A circuit control device comprising an activating circuit including a main control switch and having a normally closed fork and a normally open fork, an output circuit having two normally open forks, a deactivating circuit including said main control switch and having two normally open forks, switching means effective only during energization of said activating circuit for closing one fork of said output circuit and closing the normally open fork of said activating circuit, switching means effective only during energization of said output circuit for closing the other fork of said output circuit and opening the normally closed fork of said activating circuit; switching means effective onlyduring concurrent energization of said output circuit and deenergization of said activating circuit for closing one fork of said deactivating circuit, and switching means effective only during energization of said deactivating circuit for opening said output circuit; closing the other fork of said deactivating circuit; and opening said activating circuit; said last named switching means being responsive to deenergization of said deactivating circuit to close the normally closed fork of said activating circuit, partially close said output circuit, and open said other fork of said deactivating circuit.

5. A circuit control device comprising a control circuit having activating and deactivating forks, means including a switch effective upon initial closure thereof to close said activating fork only, an output circuit, means including a plurality .of relays responsive to energization of said activating fork for closing said output circuit and main-- taining the same closed, one of said relays in turn also being responsive to the opening of said switch while said output circuit is energized for preventing. reclosure of said activating fork by the reclosure of said switch and for rendering said deactivating fork capable of being closed by; the

reclosure of said switch, and means including a relay responsive to energization of said deactivating fork for opening said output circuit.

6. A circuit control device comprising a control circuit having activating and deactivating forks, means including a switch effective upon initial closure thereof to close said activating fork only, anoutput circuit, means including a plurality of relays responsive to energization of said activating fork for closing said output circuit and maintaining the same closed, means responsive tothe opening of said switch while said output circuit is energized for preventing reclosure of said activating fork by the reclosure of said switch and. for renderingsaid deactivating fork capableof being closed by the reclosure of said sWitcha' ld,

means responsive to energization of said deactivating fork for opening said output circuit.

7. A circuit control device comprising a control circuit having activating and deactivating forks,

means including a switch effective upon initial closure thereof to close said activating fork only, an output circuit means including a plurality of relays and a plurality of relay armatures responsive to energization of said activating fork for closing said output circuit and maintaining the same closed, means including a relay armature responsive to the opening of said switch while said output circuit is concurrently energized for pre venting reclosure of said activating fork by the reclosure of said switch and for rendering said deactivating fork capable of being closed by reclosure of said switch, means including a relay responsive to energization of said deactivating fork for opening said output circuit, and means responsive to opening of said switch after deenergization of the output circuit for preventing reclosure of said deactivating fork by the closure of said switch and for rendering said activating fork capable of closure by closure of said switch.

8. A circuit control device comprising a, control circuit having activating and deactivating forks; means including a switch effective upon initial closure thereof to close said activating fork only, an output circuit, means including a relay responsive to energization of said activating fork for closing said output circuit, means including a relay responsive to energization of said activating fork for maintaining said output circuit closed, means responsive to opening of said switch while said output circuit is energized for preventing reclosure of said activating fork by said switch, means responsive to the opening of said switch for rendering said deactivating fork capable of being closed by closure of said switch, means including a relay and a relay armature responsive to energization of said deactivating fork for opening said output circuit, and means including a relay armature responsive to opening of said switch after deenergization of the output circuit for preventing reclosure of said deactivating fork by closure of said switch and for rendering said activating fork capable of closure by the closure of said switch.

9. A circuit control device comprising an activating circuit including a main control switch, and having a normally closed fork and a normally open fork, an output circuit having two normally open forks, a deactivating circuit including said main control switch and having two normally open forks, switching means including a relay effective only during energization of said activating circuit for closing one fork of said output circuit and closing the normally open fork of said activating circuit, switching means including a, relay effective only during energization of said output circuit for closing the other fork of said output circuit and opening the normally closed fork of said activating circuit, switching means including a relay effective only during concurrent energization of said output circuit and deenergization of said activating circuit for closing one fork of said deactivating circuit, and switching means effective only during energization of said deactivating circuit for opening said output circuit; closing the other fork of said deactivating circuit; and opening said activating circuit, said last named switching means also being adapted upon the reopening of said switch to operate in such a manner as to prevent the reclosure of said deactivating circuit while rendering said activating circuit capable of closure by the reclosure of said switch.

10. A circuit control device comprising an activating circuit including a main control switch and having a normally closed fork and a normally open fork, an output circuit having two normally open forks, a deactivating circuit including said main control switch and having two normally open forks, switching means effective only during energization of said activating circuit for closing one fork of said output circuit and closing the normally open fork of said activating circuit, switching means including a relay effective only during energization of said output circuit for closing the other fork of said output circuit and opening the normally closed fork of said activating circuit, switching means effective only during concurrent energization of said output circuit and deenergization of said activating circuit for closing one fork of said deactivating circuit, and switching means effective only during energization of said deactivating circuit for opening said output circuit; closing the other fork of said deactivating circuit; and opening said activating circuit, said switching means also being adapted upon the reopening of said switch to prevent the reclosure of said deactivating circuit while rendering said activating circuit capable of closure upon the reclosure of said switch.

11. A circuit control device comprising an activating circuit including a main control switch, and having a normally closed fork and a normally open fork, an output circuit having two normally open forks, a deactivating circuit including said main control switch and having two normally open forks, switching means including a relay effective only during energization of said activating circuit for closing one fork of said output circult and closing the normally open fork of said activating circuit, switching means including a relay effective only during energization of output circuit for closing the other fork of said output circuit and opening the normally closed fork of said activating circuit, switching means including a relay effective only during concurrent energization of said output circuit and deenergization of said activating circuit for closing one fork of said deactivating circuit, and switching means including a plurality of relay armatures, effective only during energization of said deactivating circuit for opening said output circuit; closing the other fork of said deactivating circuit, and opening said activating circuit, said last named switching means being responsive to deenergization of said deactivating circuit to close the normally closed fork of said activating circuit, partially close said output circuit and open said other fork of said de-, activating circuit.

WILLIAM ROSS AIKEN.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 941,777 Hart Nov. 30, 1909 1,535,360 Vickery Apr. 28, 1925 1,668,841 Doty May 8, 1928 2,140,601 Serriere Dec. 20, 1938 2,147,422 Bendz Feb. 14, 1939 2,363,145 Robbins Nov. 21, 1944 2,375,229 Klemperer May 8, 1945 

